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LAGNIAPPE

It has been a long hiatus from writing. Reasons are numerous ; none of them seem valid to me.

I am living my own life. On my own terms. I am a whiff of wind – once here, at another instance, somewhere else. No rules, no diktats. I’m a free bird.

Coming to Kolkata has been quite an experience. In a train, sweating most of the way, getting my way in the crowds at the station, breaking rules there, listening to people hurling abuses and not saying a word , getting the dreaded sprain again – in the same place, keeping a calm head, getting lost on the way to the guest house, living life king size, watching a government hospital function, noticing a cute medico ( LOLzzzz),queues for washroom, cafeteria and the like , riding a rick, sitting next to the auto driver, seeing real super- bitches emerge from their cocoons of goodness, waking up at 6 in the morning ( on a regular basis, mind you ! ) - You name it and I have it.

But its fun in its own way. I have made new friends. I meet the old ones often.Office is cool (Literally. The air-conditioner transports us straight to Antartica).

The eyes searched someone. The one she could run to at times of need. In someone’s lap, she would pour out all her troubles. Nobody came. She grew up, rimmed her eyes with kohl. But they could never hide her tears. No one came when her soul was ripped apart. No one heard her cries. No one mourned her loss. After a while, she thought that tears were a part of the eyes.

The mere mention of armed forces evokes the image of courage,
bravery and discipline in India. However, in north-east India and Jammu and
Kashmir, the picture is vastly altered. Military force is synonymous with fear,
brutality and suspicion. The main reason behind this contradictory public image
is the “draconian” law, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. It has vested the
armed forces with absolute power mainly to aid fight against terrorism and
insurgency. Several unprovoked arrests, tortures, rapes and deaths go unnoticed
under the wraps of AFSPA.Unmarked graves have been found in the valley. Fake encounters
and disappearances make headlines. At times,
it is a case of mistaken identity. Violence in Jammu and Kashmir has increased
since implementation of AFSPA in 1990. Similar incidents are reported from the
north-eastern states. Jeevan Reddy Commission (2005) had recommended repealing
AFSPA and bringing a humanitarian law in place. However, no concrete steps have
been taken by th…